Hpewell News

In the James River, an abundance of algae can spell disaster for the ecosystem. At the Hopewell Wastewater Treatment Facility, algae might just be the thing to improve the river's overall health.
HRWTF Director Mark Haley applied for federal stimulus money for a $1.2 million project to experiment on the use of algae to reduce nutrients in the city's wastewater before it reaches the James. This project is separate from a $95 million request to fund the primary wastewater plant relocation and other improvements to nutrients.
The algae alternative, if successful, would treat the nitrogen in the water and could then be used to produce bio-fuels and fertilizer. The tests, which would use one or two methods of algae treatment, would determine if this ecologically-friendly ("green") project is sustainable in the area's yearly climate.
"I have to meet my discharge limits winter and summer," Haley said. "If it doesn't work in the winter and you have a permit, it doesn't do you very good."
The project has been placed on the list of projects that are "shovel-ready" � as in ready to be constructed if funding is approved � on the Commonwealth of Virginia's Stimulus Web site.
All of the projects on the site have been reviewed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's Governor's Stimulus Working Group and have been passed to Cabinet secretaries to identify what could be qualified for funding. Kaine's Cabinet will judge which projects comply with federal rules and make recommendations for projects that should receive stimulus funding.
So far, there is no word of how long the allocation process will take and which projects will receive funding.
If approved, the test site will be located in a clearing on roughly .9 acres near the facility's secondary clarifiers. The location, along with already being a open piece of land, will make the test easier to run, as the wastewater would only have to be pumped a short distance.
The test is also separate from another experiment to create bio-fuel out of algae in Prince George because the wastewater would have to be trucked to that location, Haley said.
The plan is to use shallow raceways with a constant circulation of water to promote algae growth. The raceways would be shaped to allow for maximum exposure to sunlight for the algae, Haley said.
Haley's concerns about how the project will work in winter might be resolved by the overall temperature of wastewater in the city. Due to HRWTF's proximity to paper production facilities, incoming wastewater is consistently warm. Although that may be a good thing in the winter, the water temperature could become an issue again in the summer.
"We may have a leg up because we have the warm water but, in the summer, it may be too hot," Haley said.
The current proposal to reduce nitrogen in the water to meet upcoming changes in levels of compliances is incorporated in the overall $95 million project that may receive stimulus money. This alternative has not received a warm reception from area industries and they most likely will not contribute funds to help pay for it, Haley said. He sees the test as crucial to see if the process is possible in Hopewell and, if so, reduce costs.
"We hope we get the funding," Haley said. "If not, in this economic climate, we can't go back to the industries."
Ward 1 Councilor Christina Luman-Bailey is optimistic that funding will come and, if successful, the algae project could dramatically reduce the cost of the necessary nitrogen reduction.
"It could potentially cut the project costs in half," she said.
Previously, the city had been lobbying for a research and development center with a goal of nitrogen reduction. A potential end product, if the center can be revived, is the bio-fuel option as an end-product of the algae, she said. A proposal is already in place and could be brought back for funding.
"We can take that proposal and use it if we add the algae," Bailey said.
Haley is optimistic about receiving funding for the test because, if successful, will cover two green initiatives by reducing nitrogen discharges into the nation's waterways and producing alternative fuels.
"I hope to do something about it," he said. "It would be exciting and garner interest in wastewater in bio-fuel."
Bailey agreed that it could make a name for Hopewell beyond its current industrial legacy.
"We could start being known as the green leader," she said. "I would love to see that happen."
Mayor Brenda Pelham said something had to be done to protect the environment for future generations and Hopewell could be on the leading edge.
�We have to look at all alternative means of doing things to save this thing called Mother Earth,� she said.
On Tuesdays, The Hopewell News will look at a project or several projects proposed by entities throughout the city. To view the list of potential stimulus projects, visit http://stimulus.virginia.gov.